Spanish train manufacturer Talgo plans to build a factory in the UK, and recruit locally should it win train orders for this country.
Speaking exclusively to RAIL in London on September 13, Talgo’s President Carlos Palacio Oriol said the company was looking to use its expertise to bid for a number of tenders in the country.
“If we win a deal, we will start work on a factory the next day. We need a big order, otherwise it makes no sense, but we are fully committed to the UK ,” he said.
“We mainly specialise in high speed and very high-speed trains, but are interested in and have developed products for other markets too.
Oriol explained that by “big order”, he meant even half of some of the deals that had been signed already by other manufacturers.
Oriol believes that trains for HS2 must be built in the UK, and that Talgo would manufacture in this country rather than assemble.
“The pre-series train for any order would be built in Spain, but the rest would be built in the UK. And I mean built, not assembled.”
He added that the UK supply chain must be involved as much as possible: “It is very important that we include the UK in an order. Any industrial investment would create jobs, thousands of jobs.”
- RAIL 836 features more from Oriol, details on where the factory could be, and what markets Talgo is interested in. It is available now on Android and the iPad, and on the shelves September 27
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Comments
Notts Railman - 25/09/2017 09:23
Most unusual for a Spanish company to commit to doing anything as soon as "The Next Day". And it shows they do not have a clue about planning and construction of buildings in the UK.
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Mike - 26/09/2017 01:54
And there goes the stupid comment of the month... congratulations!
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Belinda Nash-Smith - 09/03/2018 17:00
One should not be so pessimistic on words used such as “The next day”. It is spoken by a Spanish, which he may have misused the term. Let us be optimistic that Talgo wants to invest in the UK.
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AndrewJGwilt1989 - 25/09/2017 10:46
UK Train operators such as East Midlands Trains, Crosscountry, South Western Railway, Arriva Trains Wales, Transpennine Express, Heathrow Express, Southern and Greater Anglia could get new trains as Talgo are planning to build a new factory in the UK so that they can build new trains not just for the UK but worldwide and in Europe. Talgo could also build and manufacture new trains for HS2 and possibly new trains for Crossrail 2. And could also manufacture and build new trains for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. But the real question is. Where will the new factory be located in? In the West Midlands or East Midlands. In the North of England. In Southwest England. In the East of England. Near to London or in the Southeast and not too far from London. In Scotland or Wales. Hopefully it could be built in the Midlands, Southwest or in the Southeast and not too far from London.
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Jose Peris - 29/09/2017 10:50
It will be extremely great. Talgo trains known as Alvia today are very comfortable, smooth and they make the best of the space for sits and luggage. I will love to see those trains here. Even they are beautiful!
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AndrewJGwilt1989 - 29/09/2017 11:49
I think that Talgo are more likely going to have serious competition with Bombardier, Alstom, Siemens, CAF and Stadler that these manufacturing firms are currently building and manufacture new trains for the UK. I think Talgo are likely going to manufacture new trains for European countries at their brand new factory once it’s built. No matter where the new manufacturing plant will be based at. They are more likely going to build new trains for Europe and possibly manufacture new trains for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the future.
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John Woodland - 09/10/2018 22:32
Great news for the UK and supply chains for the rail industry. It is time to rebuild our manufacturing industry and redevelop our railway expertise before it's too late. I welcome the news and look forward to the investment.
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